What is a Mindset?

Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck PhD describes our thinking patterns as “mindsets”.   She defines two different kinds of mindsets: fixed mindset and growth mindset. 

A fixed mindset does not allow for change.   It is a mindset that is focused on judging and creates a negative internal dialogue riddled with blame and self-defeating language.   “It’s his fault that I act like this.”     “I can never change.”  “My family are all addicts, and so I am too.”   In a fixed mindset, there is no room for growth or change.   Patterns keep repeating and you are caught in a never-ending loop of self-defeating behavior.

A growth mindset, as Dr. Dweck describes, is a mindset where we examine and evaluate our thoughts and use them as a springboard for constructive action and positive change.  When a negative thought is experienced, a growth mindset will ask “Where did this thought come from?” and “What can I learn from this?”   “Is this really how I feel?  “Are these my old patterns talking”?

If you think you can never let go of your addiction, or it is too hard to change, then you have a fixed mindset.  However, I am here to tell you that a fixed mindset can be changed, because I have done it!